DO NOT PLANT: BRADFORD PEAR

The asian import, Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana), commonly called Bradford Pear, is an ornamental tree that’s widely used in landscaping. It has, like so many other nursery-grown plants, escaped from residential and commercial land and is designated as invasive in more than half of our states. This tree greedily invades natural habitats and out-competes our valuable native species for resources.

An ever-mulitiplying area of invasive Callery or Bradford Pear blooming in spring.

“Do not plant” is the official advice regarding this invasive. I’d like to add, “Do not propagate” and “Do not sell.” Please! Unfortunately the Bradford Pear is legal to sell here in Virginia and I suspect this is the case in most of the states it’s sunk its insidious roots into.

The best plan is to use local ecotypes (plants native to your area) that grow in the same conditions as your garden’s. Soil pH, light and moisture should be taken into consideration before planting to insure long term success.